Effect of mucosal fluid from women with bacterial vaginosis on HIV trans-infection mediated by dendritic cells

Virology. 2009 Mar 1;385(1):22-7. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2008.08.031. Epub 2008 Dec 30.

Abstract

Women with bacterial vaginosis (BV) have a higher risk of HIV transmission but the cause of risk is unknown. Dendritic cells (DC) are implicated in transmission of HIV and we previously observed that DC mature when exposed to mucosal fluid from women with BV. We hypothesized that maturation of DC by BV mucosal fluid would enhance DC-mediated trans-infection of HIV. Monocyte-derived DC (MDDC) were treated with mucosal fluid, incubated with HIV(Bal), and HIV trans-infection was evaluated. While LPS-treated MDDC increased HIV(Bal)trans-infection, BV fluid reduced trans-infection. HIV(Bal) DNA levels in MDDC were not affected by BV fluid or LPS but productive infection of MDDC was decreased by LPS and BV fluid. Mucosal fluid from women with BV does not increase MDDC-mediated trans-infection suggesting that BV does not increase HIV susceptibility by increasing DC-mediated trans-infection. However, indirect effects of DC maturation on HIV transmission cannot be ruled out.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / pharmacology
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / immunology
  • Dendritic Cells / drug effects
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Dendritic Cells / virology*
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / complications
  • HIV Infections / immunology
  • HIV Infections / microbiology*
  • HIV Infections / transmission
  • HIV Infections / virology*
  • HIV-1 / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Mucus / metabolism*
  • Time Factors
  • Vaginosis, Bacterial* / complications
  • Vaginosis, Bacterial* / immunology

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Lipopolysaccharides